SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong sees a potential danger arising from Singaporeans becoming more religious. It can lead to people of the same faith mixing only with each other, which over time could result in 'compartmentalisation of our society by religion', he said.

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SM Goh Chok Tong's fear of racial discord is unfounded and also very short-sighted. Singapore enjoyed racial harmony for many years. S'poreans are generally very tolerant among other faith or religions. What so wrong of S'poreans become "over-religious"? Can SM Goh define "over-religious" and spell out its dangers to us?

Come on SM, the govt has every might and power at her disposal to quash any social discord. Just bring in the ISA.

I would add additional challenges to the government:-

how to come up with policies to prioritize the citizens as human beings and build a secured social safety net for them

how to continuously justify their high salaries based on economic value of their talent and at the same time still maintain the moral authority to rule

Purplebra, let me define 'over-religious' in a more non-politically correct manner for you,

SM Goh are concerned with religious fanatics who:

1) vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours. (Example: Fundamentalist Christians)

2) feel insulted and ‘dehumanized’ when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt. (Politics vs Science vs Religion)

3) are willing to spend their life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few Billion years) but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4) While modern science, history, geology, biology and physics have failed to convince you other, some idiot rolling around the floor speaking in ‘tongues' may be all the evidence you need to ‘prove’ their religion.

In other words, SM Goh is trying to say, have you beliefs, practice your beliefs, but DO NOT do one's damnedest to use your religion to influence and sway others to 'convert' or subject them to the fear of being in eternal damnation if you don't do follow THEIR word of God.

Everyone should read Richard Dawkins's book "The God Delusion".

The World Will Peace Without Relegious People

SM Goh is rightly proactive in issuing the timely warning about religious enclaves. We await the religious leaders to respond in the public media about this. The grave concern is over the exclusivity and insularity of religious enclaves. There is a dire need for developing more relationships between the different faith communities here. Those who are responsible for developing such faith communities have not come out to support inclusivity. It is not just tolerance but interaction and cooperation in shaping the multi-religious soceity with respect for one another.

"SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong sees a potential danger arising from Singaporeans becoming more religious."

I can only pity him. Will you avoid using electricity just because it may give a shock? (whatever said I am going to become more religious hereafter)

Ah, the great religiosity of the non-religious person. :)

Racial enclaves are time bombs.

Some want the HDB flats to be Indian, Chinese, and Malay enclaves. Beware.

Monochrome versus a trapestry of colours. Choose wisely.

Look at the five rings of the Olympic flag. Change it to mono-colour. Choose your colour and look at it.

What is racial harmony?

Whatever we do, the Creator God does not need robotic humans, or mankind who has Blind Faith [locked in mind with preconceived ideas and beliefs, not open to new findings and new challenges, like a stagnant pond or well with stale water] and become fanatics and radicals, who are no better than those who have no faith.

Harmony cannot come from Blind Faith. Anyone who restrict or prohihit man's Freedom [especially religions] cannot be in tune with the Great Love of the Creator God. Discern.

Blind Faith will cause unhappiness when fanatics and the radicals go over the extreme in whatever they do affecting the Freedom and happiness of others.

Creating unhappiness cannot be in tune with the Great Love of the Creator God.

It cannot bring one closer to the Creator God. It is the opposite.

Rather than fear of becoming more religious, it is more the concern with Blind Faith going to the extreme with more and more fanactics and radicals restricting the Freedom of others [more to to do with religions] causing unhappiness for many.

Blind Faith is no better than no faith.

Radicals and fanatics could be more detrimental to peace and harmony than those with no faith.

The Creator God does not need robotic humans and those into Blind Faith creating unhappniness to others.

Causing unhappiness cannot be in tune to the Great Love of the Creator God. It is opposing. Discern.